Buzz
Mount Everest? Definitely. The Grand Canyon? Of course. Uluru? You’ve probably heard of it too. While these iconic landmarks are breathtaking, they’re a bit too popular for those seeking something more unique.
This collection celebrates the often-overlooked landforms whose grandeur and importance are frequently underestimated or completely unknown. The Earth is vast, and its awe-inspiring landscapes extend far beyond the familiar Matterhorns and McKinleys that dominate the spotlight.
10. The Three Sisters
In the Blue Mountains of Australia, close to Katoomba, a town popular with tourists and backpackers, the Three Sisters rise as a trio of tall sandstone formations sculpted by erosion. Named Meehni, Wimlah, and Gunnedoo, these majestic rocks hold a deep place in the ancient mythology of the aboriginal peoples of the region.
According to the legend, the three sisters, named as above, fell in love with three men from a rival tribe. After the brothers abducted the women, a war broke out, and a shaman turned the sisters into stone to protect them.
Sadly, the shaman perished in the ensuing battle, and no one survived who could reverse the spell. Thus, the three sisters remain as towering stone figures, slowly eroding with each passing day.
9. Fairy Chimneys
The Fairy Chimneys in Turkey’s Cappadocia region are a remarkable fusion of natural volcanic forces and human creativity. These striking conical rock formations were formed millions of years ago when volcanic eruptions covered a large portion of modern-day Turkey with ash, which eventually solidified into a soft rock called “tuff.”
Subsequently, the tuff was layered with a thicker coating of durable basalt. Over time, erosion wore away the softer tuff, leaving behind the more resilient basalt, creating a fascinating landscape of hollowed-out structures and caves.
When humans first arrived in Cappadocia, they discovered a rugged but abundant landscape, dotted with ready-made rock homes. And fill them they certainly did.
The region has been continuously inhabited throughout recorded history. Its extensive network of caves has offered shelter for countless generations, from ancient civilizations to the Romans, Greeks, and Turks. The caves are perhaps most famous for being a refuge for persecuted Christians during the Roman Empire, when their faith was forbidden.
8. Mount Roraima
At the heart of Venezuela’s Pakaraima mountain range stands Mount Roraima, a formation that resembles more of a giant table than a traditional mountain.
Roraima sits atop the Guiana Shield, a Precambrian geological formation that contains some of the oldest rocks on Earth, many of which are over two billion years old. Though it wasn’t encountered by Europeans until 1595, during an expedition led by the Englishman Sir Walter Raleigh in search of the legendary El Dorado, the plateau has long been sacred to the Pemon and Kapon indigenous peoples.
The locals believe Mount Roraima is the remnants of a once-magnificent tree that bore all the fruits and vegetables in the world. According to the tale, the tree was chopped down by Makunaima, a malevolent trickster, who unleashed a flood upon the land as a consequence.
Today, Mount Roraima no longer bears fruit, but its striking geological features and towering cliffs continue to captivate scientists and adventurous climbers. The mountain also seems to exist under a nearly constant deluge of rain, a fitting continuation of Makunaima’s enduring legacy.
7. Shilin Forest
Nestled deep in China’s southern Yunnan Province lies a fascinating formation that, from a distance, might be mistaken for petrified trees. Known as the 'Stone Forest' or 'Shilin,' this vast area spanning 500 square kilometers (193 mi) is made up of stalagmites created by limestone erosion, with an age estimated to be nearly 300 million years.
Shilin is part of the larger South China Karst region, famous for its stunning natural beauty and rich biodiversity. Although it was only recently granted the prestigious status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this geological wonder has captured the imaginations of local people for centuries, inspiring a variety of legends.
One of the most well-known stories surrounding the forest is the legend of Ashima, a young and beautiful girl who was transformed into stone as a consequence of her forbidden love.
6. Tsingy de Bemaraha
Situated in the northwest of Madagascar, the fourth-largest island in the world off the coast of Africa, Tsingy de Bemaraha is a vast expanse of razor-sharp limestone formations that dwarf Shilin. Known as the Tsingys, these karstic limestone plateaus have been carved and eroded by rising groundwater over millions of years.
Referred to as “The Badlands of Madagascar,” the name Tsingy comes from the Malagasy language, which is related to Indonesian, and translates to 'where one cannot walk barefoot.' With a forest of towering stone needles, both large and small, it's easy to imagine that crossing this landscape would be nearly impossible without a sturdy pair of hiking boots.
Despite its rugged terrain, Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park is a sanctuary for numerous endemic species, including lemurs, mangroves, and birds of paradise.
5. Son Doong Cave
When considering weather systems and climate zones, caves are hardly ever the first thing that comes to mind. But in the heart of north-central Vietnam, there exists a cavern so vast it creates its own distinct climate zone.
Son Doong Cave, discovered in 1991 by a logger-turned-conservationist named Ho Khanh, is the largest known cave on Earth. Its sheer size is so extraordinary that it has developed its own microclimate, complete with clouds and regular rainfall that nourishes the jungle and river within its enormous expanse.
Stretching about 9,000 meters (30,000 ft) in length and reaching a maximum depth of 150 meters (490 ft), Son Doong is large enough to accommodate several skyscrapers, each standing tens of stories tall, within its vast interior.
Due to the difficulty of accessing the cave and the inherent risks involved, only a very limited number of permits are granted each year to spelunkers, climbers, campers, and other adventurers. There are current plans to build a cable car that would make this geological wonder more accessible to the public.
4. The Driftless Area
The Driftless Area, also known as the Paleozoic plateau region, spans over 42,000 square kilometers (16,200 mi) in the Upper Midwest of the United States, covering portions of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Famous for its stunning bluffs along the Mississippi River and its deeply carved valleys, the Driftless Area is considered one of the most geologically unique regions in the U.S. While the glaciers of the last ice age advanced southward, they left this area mostly untouched, creating its one-of-a-kind landscape.
The glaciers missed this rocky stretch because of the Wisconsin highlands, which deflected the vast ice sheets to the east and west. This region is like a time capsule, preserving remnants from the ice age, including the monkshood plant and Pleistocene snails.
Another intriguing feature of this often-overlooked area is the algific talus slopes, a porous rock formation filled with ice that stays cold even during the peak of summer. Beneath these slopes lie cave networks, many of which are also filled with ice.
With its stunning views, diverse plant and animal life, and unique geology, the Driftless Area truly stands as a hidden gem, a diamond in the rough waiting to be discovered.
3. Siberian Traps
Of all the locations on this list, the Siberian Traps stand out for their incredibly dark history. These vast stretches of cooled and solidified flood basalt span nearly 2.6 square kilometers (1 million mi) in northern Asiatic Russia.
The formation of the Siberian Traps is linked to the largest volcanic eruption in Earth's 4.6-billion-year history, a massive mantle plume event that occurred approximately 250 million years ago. This eruption and its disastrous environmental effects are believed to have caused the Permian-Triassic extinction event, or the Great Dying, when over 90% of all life on Earth perished.
To gaze upon the towering columns of the Siberian Traps is to witness the aftermath of Earth's deadliest catastrophe. Today, the Traps are celebrated not only for their stunning vistas but also for their immense reserves of copper, nickel, and palladium.
These vast mineral deposits have led to the creation of the Norilsk Nickel company, the largest producer of nickel and palladium globally. It’s almost poetic that the aftermath of such a massive disaster would ultimately benefit humanity.
2. McMurdo Dry Valleys
Unless you’re a scientist—one with a daring spirit—chances are you’ll never find yourself in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. This igneous formation made up of gneiss and granite is located in Antarctica's Victoria Land, west of McMurdo Sound.
While most of Antarctica is covered by at least 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) of ice, the McMurdo Dry Valleys have remained astonishingly dry—free from precipitation for millions of years—making it the driest desert on Earth!
Two main factors contribute to the extreme dryness of this basin. The towering mountains around the valleys prevent coastal precipitation and the advance of ice sheets. Additionally, the fierce katabatic winds, which can reach speeds of 320 kilometers per hour (200 mph), dry out the air as they move inward.
The end result is a desolate, lunar-like landscape—perfectly suited for a scenario where Matt Damon, once again stranded, listens to disco hits while waiting to be rescued for the umpteenth time.
1. Mount Thor
While many mountains dwarf Mount Thor in height, there is one aspect where this Arctic peak, named after the Norse god of thunder, reigns supreme: its sheer vertical drop. Situated in the Baffin Mountains on Canada’s Baffin Island, this granite giant stands 1,675 meters (5,495 ft) tall, with the highest vertical drop on Earth—an astonishing 1,250 meters (4,101 ft).
That’s 1.5 times the height of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest structure on the planet! Mount Thor’s dramatic steepness is the result of intense glaciation during the last ice age. Today, the peak attracts wingsuiters, base jumpers, and hang gliders from around the world.
